Sexual assault victim notes McConnell's support of DNA legislation in new ad

Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s co-sponsorship of legislation to expedite DNA testing in sexual assault cases is the focus of a new statewide television ad released Wednesday, featured the victim the bill was named after.

“He has been a true champion on this issue, working across party lines,” Smith says in the ad. “His commitment to this legislation speaks of his devotion to women, to crime victims and their families.”

Women’s issues have been central to the campaign of McConnell’s Democratic opponent, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. She has often cited his votes against the Violence Against Women Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and she leads McConnell among women in the latest Bluegrass Poll, 47 percent to 44 percent.

McConnell’s campaign has countered that the Senate Republican leader co-sponsored the original Violence Against Women Act and supported a stronger Republican version of the legislation last year.

Kevin Wheatley

Kevin Wheatley is a reporter for Pure Politics. He joined cn|2 in September 2014 after five years at The State Journal in Frankfort, where he covered Kentucky government and politics. You can reach him at kevin.wheatley@charter.com or 502-792-1135 and follow him on Twitter at @KWheatley_cn2.